May I Please Be Excused?

Picture this. A family is eating dinner together. One child is done – having picked at the meal, scattered the less desirable elements around the plate so one might conceivably believe he has eaten an acceptable amount of everything.

“May I be excused please?”

Let’s look at the options – and how each might link to a values lesson.

“Sure. You can go work on your homework until it’s time to clear the table.” What is the values lesson? Time spent sitting here after you have eaten is time wasted. Efficiency is where it is at? Responsibility - to return and clear the table.

“Not until you eat your vegetables.” Values lesson? You are what you eat – so eat healthy?

“Mealtime is family time. Why don’t you enjoy another glass of water so we can stay connected? This time together is important to me.”

Sure things are usually way more complicated. There is no right way. And there is (as far as I can tell) a values lesson now matter what you say or do. But if we just took some off-time to think through the habits and attributes we want them to learn, it might take just seconds at the table to make a difference.

Your comments?